United’s representation in Hall of Fame rises to 10

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The most decorated club in English football have seen their representation within the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame swelled by the latest round of inductees.

Manchester United, with 20 top-flight titles to their name and countless other major honours, now boast 10 associates with strong ties to Old Trafford within the recognised great and good of the game in this country.

To be eligible for a place in the Hall of Fame, said person must be over the age of 30, have finished their career and have played or managed in England for at least five years.

Starting with the latest additions, here are United’s entries on a distinguished roll of honour:


Ryan Giggs – Where to start. A man with 34 major honours to his name, including 13 Premier League titles. United’s all-time leading appearance maker, turning out a remarkable 963 times, and the first Red Devil to notch 100 Premier League goals.

Gary Neville – A trophy collection very similar to Giggs, including eight top-flight crowns, three FA Cup successes and two Champions League triumphs. A one-club man with over 600 United appearances to his name and 85 caps for England.

Paul McGrath – Inducted alongside Giggs and Neville, the iconic Irish defender with the legendary dodgy knees made the breakthrough in English football with United. Spent seven years at Old Trafford, helping the club to FA Cup glory in 1985.

Bryan Robson – Thirteen years at the Theatre of Dreams saw ‘Captain Marvel’ become the longest-serving captain in the club’s history, while also skippering England on 65 occasions. An all-action midfielder with an eye for goal, he left United with two league titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

Eric Cantona – The man to light the fuse under the glittering Sir Alex Ferguson era, the Frenchman was an enigmatic but wonderful presence throughout five memorable years. Many feel he hung up his boots too soon, but he still retired with an enviable collection of honours and legend status secured.

Denis Law – It is safe to assume that anyone affectionately known as ‘the King’ enjoyed a rather successful playing career. Law certainly managed that, netting at better than a goal every other game over the course of 404 appearances that included European Cup glory in 1968.

Sir Bobby Charlton – Has already lost his England goalscoring record to Wayne Rooney, and is likely to see his Red Devils total surpassed as well – with Premier League betting markets suggesting that the current United number 10 will deliver this season – but the World Cup winner remains one of, if not the finest players England has ever produced.

George Best – The final member of United’s ‘Holy Trinity’ to have achieved immortality in statue form outside Old Trafford. A mercurial talent and the first footballer to transcend the sport. Part of the legendary 1968 European Cup-winning side, netting in the final along with Charlton.

Sir Matt Busby – The man who oversaw that triumph, the ‘Busby Babes’ secured 13 major trophies during his reign, including five league titles and two FA Cups. Spent over 1,100 games in the Old Trafford hot-seat and helped to make Manchester United what they are today.

Sir Alex Ferguson – That process was completed by another Scot, with the numbers behind Ferguson’s spell quite simply astonishing. Won 38 trophies over the course of 27 years, with his record haul of 1,500 games in the dugout unlikely to ever be broken. Knighted in 1999 and retired as a 13-time Premier League champion in 2013.

Cover photo by eirikref.